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DURBAN, South Africa, April 29
(Xinhuanet) -- The Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) with 115 member
countries concluded its ministerial
meeting here on Monday with the
adoption of a communique vowing to
further consolidate and develop as a
leading force in the 21st
century.
The communique said
that in order for the movement to enhance
its role at an international
level, the ministers reaffirmed the
positions of the NAM summits and
ministerial meetings on the role
of the NAM.
After a
three-day roundtable discussion at the meeting starting
from April 27,
the ministers have agreed that the next NAM summit
will be convened in
Malaysia in February 2003.
The 76-paged communique
reaffirmed the NAM principles and
commitments in various fields
ranging from the North-South
dialogue, UN peacekeeping operations, the
right to self-
determination and decolonization, disarmament and
international
security, terrorism, peaceful settlement of disputes and
culture
of peace.
The communique analyzed the
international situation, especially
the issue of Palestine and the
Middle East. The ministers called
for the intensification of efforts
to end the current tragic
situation in the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict and in the Middle
East region as a whole towards the
conclusion of a final peace
settlement.
It highlighted
the issues of globalization, food security,
interdependence,
South-South cooperation and critical economic
situation in
Africa.
Raymond Lim, minister of State for Foreign Affairs
and Trade
and Industry of Singapore, said at the meeting that he felt
proud
that after 40 years, the NAM is still an organization that
commands attention. The fact that so many countries remain
members
of NAM is a proof that the NAM still has a niche to fill in the
modern international environment.
Commenting on the
NAM role, he said, Singapore firmly believes
that NAM is an important
voice in the current international
environment, and has a role to play
in addressing the complex
political, economical and social challenges
facing our times,
adding that "We look forward to the next 40 years of
our Movement.
"
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan
Wirayudha said that on the
agenda of NAM are the economic disparities
and under-development,
environmental degradation and its
sustainability, and how the
United Nations can best serve the interest
of its members
especially the developing and small
countries.
Farouk al Shara, deputy prime minister and the
foreign minister
of the Syrian Arab Republic, reminded the delegates
that the most
important motive for the emergence of the NAM was the
aspiration
to achieve equality among people and countries regardless
of its
size. Enditem
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